I think the answer lies in the spelling of this thread title. The LB core is absolutely good enough to win. Thomas, Colvin, Vrabel and Bruschi is clearly a championship-caliber group of LBs. The LB corps, though, still has plenty of question marks. If any of the "core corps" misses significant time--and they're all 30+--I don't see how anybody could be confident with Woods or Alexander having to start for extended periods. (And I like both players.)
Paging Junior Seau, come in Mr Seau...
I'm suddenly having flashbacks of Donald Duck arguing with Chip & Dale over an apple core.
2006:
- Bruschi: played the entire season in a cast.
- Seau: IR after the Chicago game when his cane broke.
- Vrabel: hurt his back so he should have been released at the end of the season.
- Colvin: why is he still here after breaking his hip?
- TBC: JAG.
- Gardner: IR, never missed him.
- Alexander: JAG, why is he still here?
- Woods: Rookie, won the job as a UDFA - UDFA's suck.
- Mays: Rookie, won a Practice Squad slot and signed to the active roster as a UDFA - UDFA's suck.
- Izzo: has naked pictures of Bob Kraft.
- Don Davis: IR, doesn't he play Safety?
2007:
- Bruschi: Let's see if Bill Polian objects to wheel chairs before we write him off.
- Vrabel: Isn't he using a walker?
- Colvin: Turning 30 sucked for me too, he's doooooooooommmmmmed.
- Thomas: $35 mil down the drain.
- Alexander: Poor kid, thrown into the flame in an AFCCG, is he out of the burn unit yet?
- Woods: Despite having a head start in the Michigan 3-4 defense, and demonstrating a better understanding of the 3-4 scheme in Preseason last year then similar first year players, he's just another UDFA JAG, nowhere near as good a fit as the undersized linebackers passed over in the draft.
- Mays: UDFA/Practice Squad kids who win roster slots here on hustle and hard work are ugly and their mommies dress them funny.
- Rogers: 6th round draft picks never amount to anything in NE.
- Lua: 7th round draft picks never amount to anything in NE.
- Warren: UDFA's never amount to anything in NE.
- Seau: Unsigned, rehabbing, he sucked so much last season that Hollywood wants him to play "Hoover" in the remake of Animal House.
- Gardner: Unsigned, rehabbing, just another JAG even Herm Edwards couldn't turn into a pro-football player.
- Izzo: Should be our leading tackler since most of the LBs fans really want are about the same size and speed.
Solution: Let's go sign a Free Agent who every team in the NFL has passed on since Free Agency started.
Alternative Solution: Let's trade a starting player from a playoff team that missed the Superbowl by the narrowest of margins for a starter from a 4-12 team that finished 2006 strong on a 4-game losing streak.
Final Solution: Bring back Bobby Grier and Bill "I'm job hunting and can't be bothered with the Superbowl" Parcells for their uncanny linebacker drafting skills.